I live in St. Louis, MO, but my heart and soul hang out at the beach. I am a multi-genre, award winning writer and speaker. I am a seasoned pre-k teacher, on line writing instructor, wife, mother, Nana to eleven. Hopefully, something I say will make you smile, further your writing career, or inspire you to write from the heart, too.
billin7@juno.com. Twitter,
@WriterLindaO.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

That magnetic look

I have always known that the seat of the soul is in the eyes. I can usually tell a liar by the look in his or her eye and I am good at reading sincere expression. I'm also an expert at spotting crazies; that is why in passing, I may glance and nod at a stranger, but I usually avoid looking anyone in the eyes for longer than five seconds. I learned way back when I was in college that doing so indicates interest in the other person. It doesn't have to be a flirtatious come hither look, but lengthy eye contact is an open invitation to engage.

This weekend I was at a thrift store where I got some good deals. I smiled at the husky, young man behind the counter at the register. He glared at me and said, "I wish I could put my fingers in my ears."

I kicked myself for smiling and thought, "Oh boy! Here we go."

The piped in music was a mix of top forty songs. He said between clenched teeth, "I hate this song."
I fiddled in my purse and refused to look at him. He didn't read my signal. He continued, "I was homeless and sleeping in my car once when this guy came up to the window and woke me up. I almost killed him. Killed him. I hate this song."

I paid for my purchases and scooted out of that store.

Maybe there was something in my eyes that the young girl who sat next to me in the show saw. "I'm going to go get some popcorn. Would you watch my purse?" She scooted out of the aisle and I looked around to see if Betty White and her Off Their Rockers cast were nearby. Nope, just two crazies in my life this weekend. This was before the green beer started flowing.

In the classroom, I've found that the kids who look me in the eye during classwork, BEFORE something happens, are up to something, and the ones who avoid my gaze AFTER something happens are the guilty ones.

I'm just guessing that the young man has not yet completed his training on 'customer service.' And I think it would've been pretty funny if you'd have moved that gal's purse and hid somewhere to watch. She shouldn't be so naïve! In a past life I worked in a children's store. Mom's used to let there young-uns run crazy. One little darling hid beneath the clothes rack while mom searched for a good 20 minutes. Yep, I knew he was there...but she needed a 'little wakeup call'. I wouldn't do that to someone who actually tried to keep an eye on their kid, but she was notorious for letting the help watch them.I dunno where I'm going with this...oh well, keep looking away!

Oh yes, I've had a few encounters with odd folks too. It takes all kinds to make the world go around, I guess. I agree about seeing someone's soul in their eyes. I feel like I can tell a lot about a person by the expression in their eyes. Sometimes it is quite scary what you can see in someone's eyes.

I am an online writing instructor at http://Coffeehouseforwriters.com/our-instructors/"Life is an echo.What you send out, comes back.What you sow, you reap.What you give, you get.What you see in others,exists in you. Remember, life is an echo.It always gets back to you.So, give GOODNESS."~Zig Zagler